Brett Ratner Sued Woman Over Rape Accusation

Brett Ratner Has Sued One Woman Who Accused Him Of Rape

Update: Brett Ratner has sued one of the women who have accused him of sexual harassment and assault, People reports.

The defamation lawsuit, according to The Hollywood Reporter, was filed at a Hawaii federal court against Melanie Kohler, who alleged on Facebook that Ratner raped her in Los Angeles over a decade ago. In the suit, Ratner claimed Kohler's claims that he "preyed on me as a drunk girl [and] forced himself upon me" were libelous.

THR reports that Ratner also "claims he's suffered emotional distress, worry, anger and anxiety and his personal and professional reputations have been injured."

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According to THR, Kohler was not quoted in the LA Times article in which six women, including Olivia Munn, vocalized their allegations against Ratner.

Munn told the newspaper that she visited the set of After the Sunset, which Ratner directed, in 2004. She claims that when she brought a meal to him in his trailer, the director masturbated in her presence.

"He walked out... with his belly sticking out, no pants on, shrimp cocktail in one hand and he was furiously masturbating in the other," Munn told the Times. "And before I literally could even figure out where to escape or where to look, he ejaculated."

Munn also told the paper that Ratner later told her he'd masturbated to magazine covers on which she was featured. The Times also notes that when Ratner appeared on Attack of the Show in 2011, he said that he "used to date Olivia Munn" and that he "banged her a few times." Shortly after, he appeared on the Howard Stern show and clarified that his statements weren't true.

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"I felt horrible," Ratner told Stern, according to the Times. "I said I banged her three times, which wasn't true."

"I've made specific, conscientious choices not to work with Brett Ratner," Munn told the Times. "It feels as if I keep going up against the same bully at school who just won't quit... You just hope that enough people believe the truth and for enough time to pass so that you can't be connected to him anymore."

Ratner's attorney, Martin Singer, denied the allegations to the Times. A rep for Singer didn't immediately respond to Refinery29's request for comment.

"I have represented Mr. Ratner for two decades, and no woman has ever made a claim against him for sexual misconduct or sexual harassment," Singer said as part of a written 10-page statement provided to the Times. "Furthermore, no woman has ever requested or received any financial settlement from my client."

Marty Singer has been threatening Ratner's victims, & reporters, over past 2 weeks. Amy's story has the stories of 6 women. There are more. https://t.co/eTVVHhCkam

Actress Natasha Henstridge also told the Times that when she was 19, Ratner "physically forced himself on" her and forced her to perform oral sex. In addition, two extras from Ratner's Rush Hour 2 told the Times that the director offered them speaking parts in the film after making advances on them. Eri Sasaki told the Times that Ratner asked her to go into a bathroom with her; Jorina King told the paper that Ratner asked her to come to his trailer so he could see her breasts.

"No, Brett," Noxon tweeted. "The problem is you. And all other guys like you in our business who think ALL women are whores because you couldn't get any when you were a teenager & internalized that humiliation as rage at women."

If you have experienced sexual violence and are in need of crisis support, please call theRAINN Sexual Assault Hotlineat 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).